THE violent phenomenon of 'happy slapping' reached Chester over the Bank Holiday as youths attacked random passers-by on the city's streets.

A group of youngsters moved through the city centre, punching, slapping and knocking people's glasses off without any motive.

Happy slapping is the practice of attacking people for no reason, often using a mobile phone to film the incident.

It hit the headlines last month when two youths were imprisoned for six years for filming themselves setting fire to a man.

Chester's inner sector officers have since arrested a 17-year-old boy from Chester in connection with Monday's attacks and say further arrests are imminent.

'This seems to be mindless violence - happy slapping, although it's an unfortunate phrase, is the senseless enjoyment of one person hitting another for no reason,' said inner sector inspector Peter Crowcroft.

He said officers were determined to root out the few who are giving Chester's youth a bad name.

He said: 'This is not specific to Chester. It's what we see happening around the country. The lack of respect for other people astounds me.

'As head of the team, myself and Barry Brown, as head of investigations, will not stop until we catch these people who think they can come into the city and carry out these acts.

'They are an absolute disgrace and lack the common decency of normal human beings.'

He went on: 'It looks as though we might have had a few individuals coming into the city acting in a yobbish manner.

'We want to get hold of them and ensure they are dealt with.

'We will concentrate on eliminating this behaviour from the city - the majority of youths who come into the city are excellently behaved.

'Fortunately, this is the first time I've seen an example of this mindless happy slapping and by quickly and effectively dealing with the offenders we'll send out the message that it will not be tolerated.'

Officers received reports of several attacks between 4pm and 6.30pm on Monday on Eastgate Street, Frodsham Street, Union Street and Foregate Street.

Just after 4pm, a 27-year-old man from London was punched in the face on Eastgate Street by an offender who was with a number of other people.

Also just after 4pm on Eastgate Street, a 25-year-old woman from London was pushed in the face.

At about 5pm on Foregate Street, an unknown attacker hit a passer-by for no apparent reason.

A 21-year-old man from Ellesmere Port was confronted coming out of the subway around Union Street and Love Street. He had a bottle thrown at him, was punched in the face and sustained minor injuries.

A 20-year-old man from the Ellesmere Port area who was in a similar location was hit in the face by an unknown attacker.

'We received reports that a number of youths had been knocking people's glasses off their faces but can't say if this was connected to the other incidents,' said Insp Crowcroft.

He added: 'The good news is that officers have been asking people about their perception of youths in Chester.'

He said the response has been very positive, with few viewing youths as being problematic in the city.

'We seem to have almost a hardcore of youths who think this behaviour is acceptable and we won't stop until we have apprehended them.'